It was an eye-opener to experience the Ati-Atihan for the first time. That was the case back in 2012. The second time in 2015 was a glorious return, capped off by drinking a Red Horse beer poured over a still-unused toilet bowl plunger (thank God). The third one in 2018 was, without a doubt, a charm, celebrating it with my friends Karla and Erica. When the opportunity to attend the Ati-Atihan for another time came about, I expected it to be a toss-up between me experiencing a case of the "same-same" or having a great time.

The triangular-shaped island of Panay had gifted me with countless memorable travel experiences. Covering four provinces: Iloilo, Capiz, Aklan, and Antique, it had taken up a large chunk of space in my memory vault. Despite that, I remained keen on the idea of returning to the island, and when the Tourism Promotions Board of the Philippines invited me to join a media tour, I immediately said "Yes."

As the volume of the drumming increases and my ears start to take a beating, it suddenly dawns on me that the chaotic noise is slowly morphing into a harmonious rhythm signifying the celebratory mood of the moment. Soon, I find myself thumping along as the sound reverberates to the farthest distance. A sea of people takes turns dancing enthusiastically on their own.

"This is the Ati-Atihan," I quietly tell myself. No wonder it is considered one of the premier cultural festivals in the Philippines. Wild, euphoric, and entirely unconstrained—no other street party in the country can rival its massive reach in terms of pure excitement.